The simultaneous commissioning of advanced warships signals a new chapter in India’s journey toward naval self-reliance
Today marks a watershed moment in India’s maritime history. As the Indian Navy prepares to commission INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri on August 26 in Visakhapatnam, we witness something unprecedented: two advanced warships from two different Indian shipyards joining the fleet on the same day. This isn’t just naval expansion—it’s a declaration of India’s growing prowess in indigenous shipbuilding and a testament to our strategic vision for blue-water naval operations.
The Stealth Revolution Comes Home
The arrival of these Nilgiri-class stealth frigates represents more than just adding firepower to our fleet. These aren’t ordinary warships—they’re guided-missile frigates equipped with cutting-edge stealth technology, designed to slip past enemy radars like shadows on the sea. Their electronic warfare capabilities mean they can jam enemy signals while protecting themselves from incoming threats, embodying the modern warfare principle that being unseen is often more valuable than being heavily armed.
What makes this moment particularly significant is the collaborative nature of their creation. INS Udaygiri, built by Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), represents the second ship of Project 17A, while INS Himgiri, crafted by Kolkata’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), is the first Project 17A vessel from the eastern shipyard. This dual approach demonstrates India’s distributed shipbuilding capability—a strategic asset that ensures our naval production isn’t concentrated in a single location.
A Milestone Within a Milestone
Perhaps the most remarkable achievement embedded in this story is that INS Udaygiri holds the distinction of being the 100th ship designed by the Navy’s own Warship Design Bureau. This milestone reflects decades of accumulated expertise, learning, and innovation within Indian naval architecture. It’s a journey that began with foreign collaboration and licensing but has evolved into indigenous design capability that can now create world-class warships from concept to commissioning.
The economic ripple effects of this achievement cannot be understated. The construction of these two vessels engaged over 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), creating approximately 4,000 direct jobs and more than 10,000 indirect employment opportunities. This multiplier effect demonstrates how defence manufacturing can serve as an economic catalyst, particularly for India’s ambitious Make in India initiative.
The 2025 Naval Renaissance
These commissioning ceremonies cap off what can only be described as a remarkable year for Indian naval expansion. In 2025 alone, the Navy has inducted several indigenous warships: the destroyer INS Surat, the frigate INS Nilgiri, the submarine INS Vaghsheer, the Anti-submarine Warfare craft INS Arnala, and the Diving Support Vessel INS Nistar. This rapid expansion isn’t just about numbers—it’s about capability transformation and operational readiness for an increasingly complex maritime environment.
The Nilgiri-class frigates, built under Project 17A, represent an evolutionary leap from the earlier Shivalik-class vessels. With 75% of their equipment and systems supplied by Indian companies, these ships embody the principle of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing. They’re designed for blue-water operations—the deep-sea missions far from India’s coastline where naval power projection truly matters.
Engineering Excellence Meets Strategic Vision
The technical specifications of these vessels reveal the sophistication of Indian naval engineering. Using integrated construction methodology—where pipes, wires, and machinery are fitted in smaller sections before final assembly—these ships achieve faster construction timelines without compromising quality. Each vessel stretches 149 metres, displaces 6,670 tonnes, and can reach speeds of 28 knots with a range of 5,500 nautical miles at cruising speed.
Their weapons suite reads like a catalogue of modern naval warfare: Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (LRSAM) for air defence, eight BrahMos supersonic missiles for surface and land attack, Barak-8 anti-aircraft systems, lightweight torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare, and a comprehensive radar and electronic warfare package. This multi-domain capability means these frigates can engage threats in the air, on the surface, and underwater—essential for modern naval operations.
Legacy Names, Future Missions
The naming conventions tell their own story of continuity and renewal. INS Udaygiri, named after the Andhra Pradesh mountain range, inherits the legacy of its predecessor that served with distinction for over three decades, participating in operations from Op Pawan in Sri Lanka to relief missions following natural disasters. Similarly, INS Himgiri, drawing its name from the snow-covered Himalayas, carries forward the proud service record of its predecessor that guarded critical infrastructure like the Bombay High Oil Fields and participated in humanitarian missions.
The symbolic significance extends to their deployment: INS Udaygiri will join the Eastern Command’s “Sunrise Fleet” with the motto “Sanyuktaha Paramojayaha”—in togetherness there is great victory—while INS Himgiri will serve the Western Naval Command under the motto “Adrushyam Ajayam”—invisible and invincible. These assignments reflect strategic thinking about India’s maritime security needs across both coasts.
The Road Ahead: From 17A to 17B
With three Nilgiri-class vessels now commissioned and four more expected within the next 18 months, Project 17A demonstrates the maturation of India’s naval shipbuilding program. But the story doesn’t end here. The Defence Acquisition Council’s approval of Project 17B—seven next-generation frigates building on the Nilgiri-class design—signals India’s commitment to continuous technological advancement.
These P-17B vessels promise even more sophisticated capabilities: futuristic weapons systems, advanced communication and control networks, and higher indigenous content. This progression from 17A to 17B illustrates the iterative improvement approach that characterizes successful defence programs—learning from each generation to inform the next.
Strategic Implications for Maritime India
The commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri occurs against the backdrop of evolving maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region. With over 200 Indian shipyards now contributing to naval construction, and indigenous capability reaching 75% content, India is positioning itself not just as a regional naval power but as a potential hub for maritime defence manufacturing.
This transformation has implications beyond military capability. As India seeks to become a $5 trillion economy, maritime trade security becomes paramount. These advanced frigates, with their blue-water operational capability, represent India’s commitment to protecting sea lanes that carry the bulk of our international trade.
The simultaneous commissioning from two different shipyards also demonstrates strategic redundancy—ensuring that India’s naval expansion doesn’t depend on a single manufacturing source. This distributed approach enhances resilience and creates healthy competition between shipbuilders, ultimately benefiting the entire program.
A New Chapter in Naval Self-Reliance
Today’s ceremony in Visakhapatnam represents more than the addition of two warships to India’s fleet. It symbolizes the maturation of indigenous naval architecture, the success of public-private collaboration, and the realization of strategic autonomy in critical defence capabilities. From design bureaus to MSMEs, from advanced materials to complex weapons systems, the story of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri is ultimately the story of India’s growing confidence in its technological and industrial capabilities.
As these vessels begin their service with mottos emphasizing unity, invisibility, and invincibility, they carry with them not just advanced weapons and sensors, but the aspirations of a nation determined to secure its maritime destiny through indigenous strength. In an era where naval power increasingly determines geopolitical influence, India’s investment in advanced, locally-built warships positions the nation for the maritime challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
The commissioning of these frigates marks not an endpoint, but a waypoint in India’s journey toward comprehensive naval self-reliance—a journey that began with borrowed designs and foreign assistance but now charts its course through indigenous innovation and strategic vision. Today, two ships join the fleet. Tomorrow, they help secure a nation’s maritime future.
(Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. Contact: [email protected])
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